Rocker faces murder-for-hire charge

VISTA  While meeting with someone he thought was a hitman, Timothy Lambesis — lead singer of the Christian heavy metal band As I Lay Dying — seemed to avoid certain words at first when talking about his estranged wife, a sheriff’s deputy testified Monday.

Deputy Howard Bradley, who posed as a hitman named “Red,” said Lambesis didn’t initially say words such as “kill” during an encounter this year at an Oceanside bookstore. But eventually, he was more specific.

Timothy Lambesis, a co-founder of the Christian heavy metal band As I Lay Dying, faces a single count of solicitation for murder for a hit authorities say he put on his wife, shown here in Vista Superior Court. — K.C. Alfred

Timothy Lambesis, a co-founder of the Christian heavy metal band As I Lay Dying, faces a single count of solicitation for murder for a hit authorities say he put on his wife, shown here in Vista Superior Court.
— K.C. Alfred

Lambesis, 32, listened to this and other testimony during a preliminary hearing in Vista Superior Court. At the end of the hearing, a judge ordered the musician and father of three to stand trial on a single count of solicitation for murder.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to nine years in prison.

According to the testimony, Lambesis told at least two people at a Carlsbad gym that his relationship with his wife, Meggan, had deteriorated and that he wanted to “get rid of her.”

Lambesis then met with Brett Kimball, a trainer at the gym and asked if he could help.

Kimball said he told Lambesis he didn’t want to be involved. After contacting a lawyer, he called Lambesis and arranged a meeting. He then told the singer he could get him in touch with someone he knew in Texas named “Red.”

Kimball said no, explaining that he believed Lambesis would proceed with the plan with or without him. The witness said he wanted to protect Lambesis’ wife, so he played along and then contacted law enforcement.

“I’m a bodyguard, not an assassin,” he said.

The deputy testified that during their meeting, Lambesis handed over an envelope containing photos of his wife, dates when he would have the children and a $1,000 down payment. The deputy quoted the defendant a $20,000 price for the killing.

Lambesis was arrested May 7.

Defense lawyer Thomas Warwick did not make a concluding argument in court Monday or speak to reporters afterward. He said at a previous hearing that his client had gotten into bodybuilding and eating healthily, and at some point began taking steroids, which affected his thought processes.

Warwick questioned one witness about steroid use, but that witness invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and was not questioned further.

Outside the courtroom, the prosecutor said Lambesis’ wife went into hiding immediately after she was informed of the plot against her life. Grasso said the wife and children are together and safe.